METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On April 28, 2000, a 42-year-old laborer (contractor employee) with no mining experience was fatally injured at a surface milling operation. The victim, who worked for a contractor hired to mow grass on the plant site, was operating a tractor attached to a rotary cutter. The tractor, which was being operated in third gear high range, hit a series of small ruts and the victim fell from the operator's seat and was run over by the machine.

Best Practices

Seat belts should be worn when operating all mobile equipment.

Operating speed of mobile equipment should be consistent with the terrain.

Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future. Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

This is the 15th fatality reported in calendar year 2000 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1999, there were 16 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the ninth fatality classified as Powered Haulage in 2000. There were five Powered Haulage fatalities in the same period in 1999.

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The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.